Spectrum

A few days ago, Final Fantasy uploaded a new song to his MySpace, a taste of what his forthcoming Spectrum EP should sound like. Unfortunately, the song, 'Oh Spectrum Blue Imelda' (which may be a combination of two songs) was removed after it was ripped and shared: understandable, since it wasn't the final version. Nevertheless, it's remarkable enough to be worth raving about, even if you weren't lucky enough to hear it.

This song starts off a little ahead of itself, a full stage musical, with characters racing about, wildlife noises in the background, words about the Queen, hurried music that sounds like a train engine trundling through the jungle. But two minutes in, before all this action outstays its welcome, things take a more heartfelt turn, and one of the most beautiful pieces that Owen Pallett has ever written is unveiled, clanging steel-pans and mournful vocals, horns and strings matching to bring down a sunset over this scene, different warm colours spreading and mixing like paint over the sky, over all the inhabitants of Spectrum. It's like a little island celebration.

The song's not really like anything Final Fantasy has done before, except maybe 'The Miner Becomes Forgetful' - but this is on a much bigger scale. It's really something special.

Final Fantasy - The Miner Becomes Forgetful (live)

Anyway, since I can't share the song, here's something it led me to discover: a brilliant video of a steel-pan band from Trinidad & Tobago playing Toto's 'Africa.'